Ultimate tensile strength

Filler metal

Brittleness

Creep

Paleontology

Composite material

Indentation hardness

Explosion welding

Tensile testing

Metallurgy

Materials science

Welding

Recrystallization (geology)

Arc welding

Corrosion

Scanning electron microscope

Ductility (Earth science)

Annealing (glass)

Austenitic stainless steel

Copper

Optical microscope

Biology

Microstructure

Austenite

Materials & Design (1980-2015)

In this investigation, explosive welding and heat treatment processes provided an effective method for manufacturing high-strength and high-ductility copper/ austenitic stainless steel couple. In order to improve diffusion in the interface of copper/stainless steel, first the tensile samples were provided from the welded part, then they were subjected to annealing at 300 °C (below recrystallization temperature) for 8–32 h with 8 h intervals and then samples were cooled in the furnace. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to evaluate the possibility of diffusion in the joints. Moreover, in order to measure the hardness of the samples, microhardness test was performed. Microstructural evaluations showed that the stainless steel 304L had a wavy interface. Furthermore, the post heat treatment process resulted in great enhancement of diffusion. Microhardness measurements showed that the hardness of the sample near to the interface is greatly higher than other parts; this is due to plastic deformation and work hardening of copper and stainless steel 304L in these regions. The interface of samples with and without the post heat treatment was exhibited ductile and brittle fracture, respectively.

Effect of heat treatment on bonding interface in explosive welded copper/stainless steel